Josh Giddey Expected To Play On Wednesday Night
4 days agoChicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (forearm) is probable heading into Wednesday's Play-In matchup against the visiting Heat. He missed the final two games of the regular season. But head coach Billy Donovan remains optimistic Giddey will be out there versus Miami. If that's the case, Julian Phillips, coming off a nine-point, seven-assist, two-steal performance, will presumably head back to the bench.Source: NBA Injury Report
Moses Moody Added To The Injury Report
4 days agoGolden State Warriors forward Moses Moody (back) is now questionable for Tuesday's Play-In game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 24-year-old has started 34 games for the Warriors this season. Unfortunately, he popped up on the Injury report because of back spasms, putting his availability in jeopardy. If Moody can't suit up, Buddy Hield, averaging 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 22 starts during the 2024-25 campaign, will likely slide into the starting lineup.Source: NBA Injury Report
Grant Williams "Hitting Milestones"
4 days agoCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (knee) is progressing well and "hitting milestones." The 26-year-old saw his 2024-25 campaign come to an end on Nov. 23, when he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Before the injury, Williams averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals over 29.9 minutes per game. Williams showed that he can make a fantasy impact as a member of the Hornets, but it remains to be seen whether he will reach similar performance levels next season. After undergoing surgery in December, Williams was ruled out for 9-12 months, meaning he might not return to action before 2026.Source: Sam Perley
Robert Williams III Expects To Be Ready For Training Camp
4 days agoPortland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (knee) experienced another season plagued by health issues in 2024-25, but he hopes to be "injury-free" next season. Williams III made only 20 appearances before undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to address inflammation in his left knee, which ended his season in March. He fully expects to be ready by training camp. A healthy Williams III can be a valuable asset for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old has averaged 7.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 20.2 minutes throughout his career.Source: Aaron Fentress
Hornets Want LaMelo Ball To "Get Stronger"
4 days agoCharlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball will be locked into the weight room in the offseason if head coach Charles Lee has his way. "He's got to get stronger," Lee said about Ball Monday following the team's exit interviews. "Teams are trying to deny him, trying to be physical, and you can see early in the year when teams did it, it definitely bothered him," Lee said. "As he got used to it, he got a lot more comfortable, so it's going to start with his body. He's got to get stronger and more conditioned to be able to play both sides of the ball and sustain efforts. ... When you're one of the best players in the league, you have to be ready for physicality. In order to combat that, you have to be stronger." Building extra muscle on his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame could also enable Ball to spend more time on the court. Over the past three seasons, he has played in just 105 games, causing frustration for fantasy managers.Source: ESPN
Luke Kennard Active On Tuesday
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward Luke Kennard (knee) will be available for Tuesday's play-in contest against the Golden State Warriors. Right knee soreness kept Kennard off the court on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, but the team has removed him from the injury report ahead of Tuesday's matchup. Kennard occasionally pops off for a big game but mostly takes the backseat in Grizzlies games. He has averaged only 4.4 points per game in April, despite logging over 20 minutes on most nights.Source: NBA Injury Report
Santi Aldama Returns To Grizzlies Lineup Tuesday
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (ankle) has received the green light to play on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. The Spaniard missed Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks due to an ankle issue. However, Aldama's name is not listed on the injury report on Tuesday. Although Aldama had a quiet finish to the regular season, it has overall been a successful campaign for him. Some of Aldama's best performances have come against the Warriors, as he averaged 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in 23.7 minutes against them during the regular season.Source: NBA Injury Report
Zach Edey Ready To Face Warriors
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (ankle) will hop back into the lineup for Tuesday's play-in action against the Golden State Warriors. The giant from Purdue skipped Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks with a sore left ankle. Edey's role has grown since Memphis' coaching change, as he has averaged 9.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 30.5 minutes over six April performances. His efforts this month include a 10-point, 16-rebound double-double with four blocks in a 134-125 loss to the Warriors.Source: NBA Injury Report
Scotty Pippen Jr. Good To Go Against Warriors
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (back) will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. The 24-year-old missed Sunday's action against the Dallas Mavericks due to low back soreness, but Memphis has not included Pippen Jr. on the injury report for Tuesday. Pippen Jr. finished the regular season strongly and should be full of confidence ahead of the postseason, having averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 assists for the month. Golden State boasts the fifth-best defensive record in the league against opposing benches, so Pippen Jr.'s form will receive a stern test on Tuesday night.Source: NBA Injury Report
Jaren Jackson Jr. Available Against Warriors
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (back) is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday's play-in game against the Golden State Warriors. Due to a back issue, Jackson Jr. did not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks, joining a host of key players on the sidelines. Memphis will have everyone back in the lineup on Tuesday as the team aims to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The matchup against the Warriors has suited Jackson Jr. this season, as he has raised his averages to 23.5 points and 7.0 rebounds against them.Source: NBA Injury Report
Desmond Bane Ready For Play-In Action
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies guard/forward Desmond Bane (adductor) is on track to rejoin the lineup on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, as the team has not included him on the injury report. Bane saw a run of 21 consecutive appearances come to an end on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks when he was ruled out for the game due to left adductor soreness. In other words, Bane was rested for the regular-season finale to keep him fresher for the Play-In Tournament. Recently, Bane has found his scoring touch, averaging 27.3 points over his past four appearances. However, the Warriors held him to 18.5 points per game over four regular-season meetings.Source: NBA Injury Report
Ja Morant Back In Action Tuesday
4 days agoMemphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (shoulder) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Tuesday's play-in clash against the Golden State Warriors. Morant did not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Dallas Mavericks due to a shoulder issue. The Grizzlies superstar was on fire during the final stretch of the regular season and will be expected to carry that form into Tuesday's high-stakes game. This month, Morant has averaged 30.2 points and 5.8 assists with over 41 percent shooting from beyond the arc.Source: NBA Injury Report
Draymond Green Available Tuesday
4 days agoGolden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (neck) has been cleared for Tuesday's play-in battle against the Memphis Grizzlies, as the team has not listed him on the injury report. Green has been banged up all season and hurt his neck in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers, briefly leaving the game. However, the four-time All-Star seems to be fully ready for Tuesday's action. During the regular season, Green averaged 8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals against the Grizzlies.Source: NBA Injury Report
Jimmy Butler III Good To Go For Tuesday
4 days agoGolden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (thigh) is not listed on the injury report for Tuesday's play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The veteran star injured his left thigh in a collision with Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during Sunday's regular-season finale, but he pushed through the issue, and it won't prevent him from playing in Tuesday's crucial game. Butler III recorded his highest-scoring game as a Warrior on Sunday, finishing with 30 points, and he has built up strong momentum for the postseason, averaging 27.3 points over his last three games.Source: NBA Injury Report
Devin Booker Wants To Stay In Phoenix
4 days agoPhoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is not considering abandoning ship after the team's disappointing season. "I've spoke on it plenty of times," Booker told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. "I'm sure the people are sick of hearing my Phoenix love story, but I'm deeply rooting into this community. I take a lot of pride in it. We've built it from the ground up before. I didn't think I'd be back in this situation, but it shows you how hard the league is. Once we get back to that championship level, I'll be able to shed light on people that it can change very quickly." While Booker is adamant about staying, the Suns are poised to undergo major changes, which could include trading Kevin Durant.Source: Duane Rankin